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“It’s the best I can do.”
    It wasn’t good enough. Kare dropped his father’s hand and took a last, long look at Darwin. He was a nothing to these people who’d said they would help. Sonly had cried when she said goodbye; no one else had.
    He took his time, embedding the scene in his memory, the docking bay, dark and empty. Sending them away was being done secretly. They knew it was wrong.
    He’d remember Darwin’s last sorry; never forget Rjala’s cool military stance, hands behind her, back straight. This was how it felt to be cast out– like he was on a tightrope, barely balanced, and might fall at any moment.
    He followed his father and Karia onto the ship, but stopped at the top of the hatch, waiting until it thudded shut. There was no way back, no direction to go but towards the future his father had seen. The darkness closed around him, and he’d never felt more alone.
     

CHAPTER SIX
    The ship descended through the atmosphere. Ealyn’s hands shook as he laid them on the control panel and commenced the landing cycle. Beside him, entwined in the co-pilot’s seat, the twins were quiet, still stunned by events. They weren’t the only ones. He shook his head, focusing on the ship; without a port a landing was never straightforward. His hand slipped, sweat smearing the panel, and he’d have pulled out if there was any other way of bypassing planetary security.
    Concentrate . He squinted out of the viewing window. The abandoned space yard should be big enough, but any mistake and he'd overshoot. He lowered the ship, and the nose threatened to dip. Hell. Alarms blared but he ignored them and reached forward to reverse the thrust, his touch precise. The warnings stopped, the silence in their wake just as unnerving.
    “Come on, land, you bitch.” He dropped a little more, holding his breath, forcing himself to take his time. The engines sent dust up, obscuring his view, and he swore but kept lowering the ship, relying on instinct.
    Now. He touched down with a soft thud and killed the engines, waiting for the dust to clear. When it did, he saw the ship was settled with perfect precision in the middle of the yard. He hadn’t lost that little knack, then. On another day the thought would have cheered him; today it only brought relief. He took a deep breath and pushed his chair back, turning to the usual tangle of arms and legs. “Let’s go.”
    “I feel sick.” Kare’s small voice came from the depths of the seat.
    “You always feel sick when we land,” said Karia. She uncurled and leaned forward to look out the window. Kare stayed huddled, paler than usual.
    “You’ll be all right, son, you always are.” For a child brought up on a ship, Kare was a terrible traveller– sick at launches and set downs, white through every jump in and out of hyperspace. Ealyn undid his restraints and stood, the muscles in his neck clicking as he stretched. “Come on, we’ll get some fresh air. That’ll help.”
    Karia reached for her brother and he pulled himself up using her arm. Once standing, they focused on Ealyn, their green eyes unwavering, the same green eyes through all his visions. He grabbed the back of his seat at a wave of dizziness. The control room swirled and faded, and he found himself in a darkened cell, pain wracking his limbs. Omendegon . Again.
    He doubled and groaned, bringing a shaking hand up to his face. There was no ring; there hadn’t been during any of his recent visions. The cell grated open and he heard the Empress’ footsteps. He shook his head; how could she do this? She was their mother.
    He had to get back to the ship, where the children needed him, but it was like the last time and he was in too deep–
    “Dad!” Karia’s panicked voice, her hand tugging his, brought him back to the present.
    The cell faded and he took a deep breath. “I’m all right,” he said, but the cabin was still blurred and threatened to fade. He gulped, a big breath of air, and it steadied.
    “You